Frederick g



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

v P. G. CORNING. APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING ELEGTRIG GAR BATTERIES.

No. 434,581. Patented Aug. 19, 1890.

ATTOR N EY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2] (No Model.)

Patented Aug. 19,1890.

JINVENTOH ATTORNEY 4 WITNESSES:

THE ywams PETERS co., vnmumm, WASHXNGTDN, n. c

, UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

FREDERICK Gr. CORNING, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

7 APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING ELECTRIC-CAR BATTERIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,581, dated August19, 1890. Application filed June 4, 1890. $erial No. 354,289. (Remodel)I To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. CORNING, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city, county, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forTransferring Electric-Car Batteries, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to apparatus wherein secondary batteries oraccumulators or other batteries are shifted between an electro-motivecar and vertical series of recharging-benches wherein the storage-spaceis condensed and the batteries connected with recharging-circuits.

My invention consists, in conjunction with the car-stall at therecharging-station, of vertically-movable battery-racks flanking thecar-track in the stall, wherein by the movement of said racks any of thevertical series of charging-benches therein may be brought to a levelwith the battery-receptacles in the car preparatory to shifting thebattery-trays horizontally.

My invention also consists in the combination of the vertically-movablebattery-racks and a Vertically-movable car-receiving platform, bothmoving simultaneously in co-operation with each other.

My invention also consists in means for counterbalancing the weight ofthe racks and that of the car-platform with reference to one another, aswill be hereinafter set forth.

Referring to-the accompanying drawings, in which similarreference-numerals represent corresponding parts throughout the severalviews, Figure l is a sectional end elevation showing the movablebattery-racks and suitable mechanism for operating the same, and Fig. 2a partial plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevationshowing the movable battery-racks and a movable car-receiving platformor elevator in connection therewith, and Fig. 4 a partial side elevationof Fi 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 2 represents the floor of the car-stall on apermanent level; 3, the car-tracks therein; 4, an electric car havingbattery-receptacles 9, located in the usual manner beneath thecar-seats, capable of being opened at the sides of the car, and 5 5 thebattery-racks containing vertical series of charging-benches '6 6, &c.,moving vertically in ways 36 for thepurpose abovestated.

The bed-sills 8 of the car may be brought in as close proximity asdesired to the racks, according to construction. I have, however,represented interposed bridges 13, supplementing the spaces between thecar and the racks, whereon the trays 7 are moved horizontally by hand orby automatic means.

The battery-racks 5 5 may be moved co-operatively or independently.Counter-Weights may be connected through suitable mechanism to each rackseparately-for instance, such as represented in Figs. 3 and 4, inconnection with the car-elevator itself, which is therein utilized as acounter-Weight. Also, the battery-racks 5 5 may be connected, whereby tocounterbalance each other, as in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and2, at. present referred to. Herein the racks 5 5 move simultaneously inopposite vertical directions, being connected by a cable 40 at each endof the apparatus, which cables are anchored at 41 41 on the frames 36.The cables are passed around sheaves 43 43, attached to the racks, andpassed in coils around the driving -sheaves 4:4 and idlesheaves 45. Thetension of the coil affords a purchase of the driving-sheavesthereon,and the shaft 46, bearing the driving-sheaves, therefore affordsa convenient means of propelling the racks 5 5. Through a spur-gear 47and system of gearing e8 49 50 and beltpulleys 51 52'and electric motor53 or other motor the racks can be operated at will. WVhen so movedsimultaneously in opposite directions, the racks 5 5 are preferablyadjusted with reference to each other and" to the bed-sills of the car,whereby an uppermost bench of the one series and a lowermost bench ofthe other series shall coincide with the level'of the bed-sills ateither extreme position of movement of the apparatus. The propercoincidence of benches in all other positions is thereby secured.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and l, the batteryracks 5 5 move simultaneouslyin common in vertical directions, the corresponding benches 6 6 being atcommonlevels in all positions of the respective racks. The pair ofbattery-racks and the car-elevator move with reference to each other inopposite vertical directions thus simultaneously.

1 represents the floor or ground level upon which the cars are conveyedto or from the stall, and 1 the car elevating and lowering platform orsection of car-track. This .form

' of apparatus may also be usedin conjunction with successive floors ofa station whereon the cars are to be transported from one level toanother for sundry purposes additional to that of changing batteries, inthe manner described in my separate patent application, filed May 21,1890, Serial No. 352,638.

Various counterbalancing mechanism may be applied to the movable racksand to the car-elevator independently. I have illustrated the feature ofcounterbalancing the one with the other, or nearly so, using the forceof preponderance in co-operation with a motive force whereby theapparatus is moved.

1'50 151 represent separate sheavesconnected to the battery-racks ateach end thereof, and 152 153 separate sheaves connected to the overheadsupporting-structure. The cables 40 are anchored to the saidsupporting-structure or other stationary point at 55, and attached attheir opposite ends to the frame of the elevator 1. The weight of theelevator and car combined being much less than that of thebattery-racks, the difference is compensated by the leverage obtainedthrough the arrangement of cables and sheaves thus shown. The elevatorand its car and the battery-racks may thereby be actually balanced andoperated by means of cable-propelling mechanism applied to the elevator,such as illustrated in my separate patent application filedMay31,1890,Scrial No. 353,808, or byother suitable motive appliances wellknown to the art. In the illustration herein the batteryracks arerepresented as preponderating the elevator 1 and its car suflici'entlyto effect the upward motion of the latter when released. In thisarrangement the motive power is ap plied beneath the elevator, a cablebeing shown, which is anchored at 61, passed over the sheave 62,attached to the elevator, and coiled about the drum 63 of ahoisting-winch.

64 is an electric or other motor connected to drive the winch, and 65 abrake for arresting and retaining the apparatus at any position.

In the practice of my invention electrical connections are establishedin the racks, whereby each gang of batteries when they are received uponthe benches 6 are included in the recharging-circuit. The closing of thecircuit is automatically effected by suitable electrical contacts uponthe battery-trays connected to the poles of the batteries andcorresponding electrical contacts in the benchracks; or when thebattery-trays are shifted to the car the electrical connection isestablished by similar contacts in the car-receptacles connected withthe motor-circuit. Such electrical connections having been heretoforefully described in mypatent application Serial No. 352,638, and also invarious patents, will not require specific description here.

Flexible conductors 70, &c.such as'indicated in connection with Fig.1-may be em-" ployed to connect the several bench-conductors in themovable racks with the generator 71, each conductor 70 being controlledby separate switches 72 72, &c., to cut out any of the circuits (orcircuit branches) when a respective gang of batteries have been changedor removed from their bench.

Rheostat switches and ammeters (not illustrated) are included in theseveral circuit branches, whereby to enable the attendant to observe andregulate the condition of the batteries in the usual manner.

Vertical strips of metal-snob as the one 75 in Fig. 4=-may be employedon the racks in lieu of the flexible wires 70 to conduct the electriccharging-current to each bench, stationary contact-springs 7 6 beingattached to any suitable supports to maintain the connection. The strip75 is represented as connecting electrically to the bench 6. Theopposite poles of the generator are connected to opposite ends of bothcharging-benches, although but one such connection is illustrated.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited by the forms ofoperating mech-,

anism shown; but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus for recharging electric car batteries, theherein-described vcrticallymovable battery-racks for receiving thebatteries in conjunction with a car-stall wherein the car is introducedto bring its battery-receptacles opposite the racks, and a source ofelectricity and conductors thereof connecting with the batteries in thesaid vertically-movable racks, for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with a car-stall in an apparatus for transferringelcctric-car batteries, of vertically-movable battery-rechargingracks'flanking the stall and mechanism for changing and controlling theposition of said battery-racks at will, whereby to bring any of thecharging-benches therein into a common horizontal plane with that of thebattery-receptacles in the car, for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, in an apparatus for transferring electric-carbatteries, of a carstall havinga movable platform or section ofcar-track for conveying the carvertically and battery-recharging rackscontaining series of charging-benches flanking the stall, also movablevertically.

4. The combination, in an apparatus for transferring electric-carbatteries, of a carelevator, vertically-movable battery-recharging racksflanking the elevator and its path of movement, and connecting mechanismbetween the said elevator and racks, whereby moving or permitting themovement of said the same are moved in opposite vertical direcelevatorand racks in counterbalanced relaro tions simultaneously. tion, ornearly so, substantially as described.

5. The combination in an apparatus for 5 transferring electric-carbatteries, of a car- FREDERICK CORNING elevator, vertically-movablebattery-recharg- Witnesses: ing racks flanking the elevator and its pathWM. J. LE COMPTE, J r.,

of movement, and connecting mechanism for AUG. CREVELING.

